GM Murray Chandler took his third national title at the New Zealand Championship in Auckland last week. He started the hot favourite, as the only grandmaster in the field and holding a 200 rating point advantage over his closest rivals. Events did not go strictly according to plan, however. In the first half of the tournament he lost a close game to FM Stephen Lukey and conceded a couple of draws to lie in second place behind IM Herman van Reimsdijk from Brazil. But a finishing streak of five wins ensured Chandler duly finished on 9/11, a point and a half clear of IM Russell Dive and Michael Steadman in second place. The next group in fourth on 6½ were van Reimsdijk, Leonard McLaren, Graeme Spain and Ralph Hart. 22 players took part.
The 46 player Major Open held concurrently with the championship was won by 12 year old Aucklander, Daniel Shen on 8½/11, half a point ahead of Bruce Wheeler and Stanley Yee on 8 points.
Today's game is Chandler's eighth round win against then co-leader Dive, to finally get a break on the field. Chandler, with the black pieces, plays for an attack right from the opening and makes it look easy.
1. c4 e5 2. g3 d6 3. Bg2 f5 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. Rb1 Be7 6. b4 O-O
The English Opening where Black plays 1 ...e5 often resembles a Sicilian with colours reversed. The pawns structure already points to White expansion on the queenside and a Black kingside attack. 7. d3 Kh8 8. Nf3 c6 9. O-O Qe8 10. Qc2 Qh5 11. c5?! ---
Perhaps White didn't want the more thematic11 b5 to be met by 11 ... c5 keeping the b-file closed. But this move hands the initiative to Black. After the exchange of pawns on d6 White seems only to have achieved a normal Open Sicilian position reversed having taken an extra move to exchange his c-pawn. 11. --- f4!
Rightly ignoring the pseudo pawn offer on c5, Black forces open the f-file. 12. cxd6 Bxd6 13. Rd1 fxg3 14. hxg3 Ng4!
Not a premature attack, as the knight cannot be driven off this optimum square. White's kingside pieces are now frozen under the glare of an exchange sacrifice on f3. 15. Ne4 Be7 16. Bg5 ---
Exchanging pieces to try to take the sting out of the attack. 16. --- Bxg5 17. Nexg5 Bf5 18. Ne4 Nd7 19. Nd6 Be6!
Offering the b-pawn rather than allow further exchanges. White decides to pocket the gift, since he will come under attack regardless. 20. Nxb7 Bd5 21. Rb2? ---
Bringing the knight back to the defence with 21 Nc5 aiming to block e4 was the only chance as 21 ... Nxc5 22 Qxc5 defends f2 and prevents an immediate exchange sacrifice. In its absence Black finally unleashes his rook. 21. --- Rxf3! 22. exf3 Nh2!
Possibly this strong move was missed by White. The weak f3 square will fall to Black and White is defenceless. 23. g4 Qh4 24. Qe2 Rf8 25. f4 Rxf4 26. f3 Nxf3+ 27. Bxf3 Bxf3
After 28 Qh2 Qxg4+ 28 Kf2 Bxd1+ further resistance is futile.
Third NZ championship for Chandler
Problem: Black to play and mate in three.
GM Murray Chandler took his third national title at the New Zealand Championship in Auckland last week. He started the hot favourite, as the only grandmaster in the field and holding a 200 rating point advantage over his closest rivals. Events did not go strictly according to plan, however. In the first half of the tournament he lost a close game to FM Stephen Lukey and conceded a couple of draws to lie in second place behind IM Herman van Reimsdijk from Brazil. But a finishing streak of five wins ensured Chandler duly finished on 9/11, a point and a half clear of IM Russell Dive and Michael Steadman in second place. The next group in fourth on 6½ were van Reimsdijk, Leonard McLaren, Graeme Spain and Ralph Hart. 22 players took part.
The 46 player Major Open held concurrently with the championship was won by 12 year old Aucklander, Daniel Shen on 8½/11, half a point ahead of Bruce Wheeler and Stanley Yee on 8 points.
Today's game is Chandler's eighth round win against then co-leader Dive, to finally get a break on the field. Chandler, with the black pieces, plays for an attack right from the opening and makes it look easy.
1. c4 e5
2. g3 d6
3. Bg2 f5
4. Nc3 Nf6
5. Rb1 Be7
6. b4 O-O
The English Opening where Black plays 1 ...e5 often resembles a Sicilian with colours reversed. The pawns structure already points to White expansion on the queenside and a Black kingside attack.
7. d3 Kh8
8. Nf3 c6
9. O-O Qe8
10. Qc2 Qh5
11. c5?! ---
Perhaps White didn't want the more thematic11 b5 to be met by 11 ... c5 keeping the b-file closed. But this move hands the initiative to Black. After the exchange of pawns on d6 White seems only to have achieved a normal Open Sicilian position reversed having taken an extra move to exchange his c-pawn.
11. --- f4!
Rightly ignoring the pseudo pawn offer on c5, Black forces open the f-file.
12. cxd6 Bxd6
13. Rd1 fxg3
14. hxg3 Ng4!
Not a premature attack, as the knight cannot be driven off this optimum square. White's kingside pieces are now frozen under the glare of an exchange sacrifice on f3.
15. Ne4 Be7
16. Bg5 ---
Exchanging pieces to try to take the sting out of the attack.
16. --- Bxg5
17. Nexg5 Bf5
18. Ne4 Nd7
19. Nd6 Be6!
Offering the b-pawn rather than allow further exchanges. White decides to pocket the gift, since he will come under attack regardless.
20. Nxb7 Bd5
21. Rb2? ---
Bringing the knight back to the defence with 21 Nc5 aiming to block e4 was the only chance as 21 ... Nxc5 22 Qxc5 defends f2 and prevents an immediate exchange sacrifice. In its absence Black finally unleashes his rook.
21. --- Rxf3!
22. exf3 Nh2!
Possibly this strong move was missed by White. The weak f3 square will fall to Black and White is defenceless.
23. g4 Qh4
24. Qe2 Rf8
25. f4 Rxf4
26. f3 Nxf3+
27. Bxf3 Bxf3
After 28 Qh2 Qxg4+ 28 Kf2 Bxd1+ further resistance is futile.
0-1
Solution: 1 ... Rxh5+! 2 gxh5 Bg2+ 3 Kh4 Bg3#.